Colombo, Feb 25 (Daily Mirror) – The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has asserted that extrajudicial killings are not a viable solution to escalating criminal activity, insisting that upholding the rule of law is essential to effectively curb crime.
The BASL is urging the Acting Inspector General of Police to launch a swift, impartial investigation into the deaths of two individuals killed by police. The association called for decisive measures to prevent further incidents of encounter killings and custodial deaths.
In its statement—which addressed not only the shooting of two suspects in police custody on February 21 but also the killing of a suspect inside a courtroom—the BASL stressed the need for stringent action against police officers involved in fostering a culture of impunity. The association warned that past occurrences of extrajudicial killings, which have gone unchecked and uninvestigated, have undermined public confidence in the justice system.
According to reports, the two suspects, who were allegedly involved in a killing in Kotahena earlier that night, were shot by police during an alleged confrontation while in custody.
The statement, expressing regret over repeated incidents without proper accountability, was signed by BASL President Anura Meddegoda, PC, and Secretary Chathura Galhena.